Device for holding elements in a successive arrangement in a longitudinal direction

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a device for holding elements ( 1 ) in a successive arrangement in the longitudinal direction in holding units ( 5 ). The holding units ( 5 ) are inseparably connected to edge strips ( 2, 3 ) via connecting webs ( 7 ). The elements ( 1 ) are arranged releasably in the holding elements ( 5 ). Thus the device can be reused and can be again equipped with elements ( 1 ) after removing the elements ( 1 ) from the holding units ( 5 ).

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a U.S. National Phase patent application based onInternational Application Serial No. PCT/EP2009/004240 filed Jun. 12,2009, the disclosure of which is hereby explicitly incorporated byreference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a device for holding elements in asuccessive arrangement in a longitudinal direction.

2. Description of the Related Art

One known device is disclosed in DE 41 09 772 A1. In this device atleast one edge strip has been provided, and several retaining units aredesigned in such a way that they hold elements made of plastic partsshaped, for example, in the form of push buttons. Each retaining unit isconnected to the (or each) conveyor belt via at least one lateralconnecting web which is aligned in perpendicular manner to the (or atleast one) conveyor belt. This makes it possible to stockpile veryeconomically elements held in a successive arrangement in thelongitudinal direction in retaining units and to supply them to ahandling tool which cuts through the (or any) mechanically relativelyweak connecting web to apply the elements.

DE 25 12 825 A1 discloses a device for holding elements designed in theform of screws in a successive arrangement in the longitudinal directionin which C-shaped retaining units are connected with each other viawebs. The screws can be inserted in and removed from the C-shapedretaining units through a lateral opening.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a device for holding elements in asuccessive arrangement in a longitudinal direction according to the typementioned above, which arrangement can be reused and the elements can beapplied in a relatively simple manner.

Each retaining unit is permanently connected with at least one conveyorbelt, and each retaining unit has a fixing arrangement by means of whichan element can be fixed in releasable manner. In this way, the elementscan be released from the retaining units without destroying theconnection between the retaining units and the (or each) conveyor belt,and the device can be again equipped with elements to be applied.

In one form thereof, the present invention provides a device for holdingelements in a successive arrangement in the longitudinal direction withat least one edge strip and several retaining units for holding theelements, whereas each holding unit is connected with the (or at leastone) edge strip via at least a lateral connecting web, characterized inthat each retaining unit is permanently connected with at least one edgestrip and that each retaining unit has one fixing arrangement with whichan element can be fixed in releasable manner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above mentioned and other features and objects of this invention,and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and theinvention itself will be better understood by reference to the followingdescription of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 a perspective view of the invention-based device, which involvesa plane with two edge strips and several retaining units, in which oneunit is supplied with an element designed as a machine screw, with theviewer facing the upper side;

FIG. 2 a sectional view of the embodiment according to FIG. 1, with theviewer facing the bottom side;

FIG. 3 a frontal side view of the embodiment according to FIG. 1 showingthe retaining unit supplied with the machine screw;

FIG. 4 a detailed perspective view of a further embodiment of aninvention-based device, which has two edge strips and several retainingunits, with the viewer facing the upper side of a retaining unit; and

FIG. 5 a perspective view of the embodiment according to FIG. 4, withthe viewer facing the bottom side of a retaining unit supplied with amachine screw.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding partsthroughout the several views. Although the exemplifications set outherein illustrate embodiments of the invention, in several forms, theembodiments disclosed below are not intended to be exhaustive or to beconstrued as limiting the scope of the invention to the precise formsdisclosed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view (with the viewer facing the upper side)of an embodiment of an invention-based device for holding elements 1,designed, for example, in the form of machine screws, in a successivearrangement in a longitudinal direction, which device is preferablyproduced from a hard-elastic plastic material in a continuous, or aquasi continuous process such as injection molding, extrusion, orembossing. The embodiment according to FIG. 1 has two edge strips 2, 3,which are aligned in parallel arrangement at a distance to each other.Each edge strip is designed with a toothed structure 4 which, accordingto the representation in FIG. 1, is arranged on the upper side facingthe viewer. The toothed structures 4 serve the purpose of engaging withdrive elements of a handling tool (not shown in FIG. 1) for applying theelements 1.

Between the edge strips 2, 3, in a successive arrangement regularlyspaced in a longitudinal direction of the edge strips 2, 3, severalretaining units are arranged which are adjusted in an article-specificmanner to the respective elements to be held, each retaining unit beingprovided with a circumferentially closed planar retaining ring 6. Inthis embodiment, the retaining rings 6 are connected with both edgestrips 2, 3 via two pairs of lateral connecting webs 7, which correspondin width approximately to the width of the retaining ring 6, and whichare aligned in perpendicular manner to the edge strips 2, 3.

Furthermore, each retaining unit 5 has a fixing arrangement, which ismolded via locking stands 8 to one side of the retaining ring 6, in thisembodiment represented in FIG. 1 the upper side facing the viewer. Inthe embodiment according to FIG. 1, four locking stands 8 have beenprovided, which are arranged diametrically opposite from each other atan angular distance of 90 degrees. Each locking stand 8 is designed witha positioning lug 10 which extends to the inside radially over aninternal side 9 of the retaining ring 6. In addition, the fixingarrangements of each retaining unit 5 are provided with counter flangeconnectors 11 which are molded to the internal side 9 of the retainingrings 6 and protrude radially to the inside, with each counter flangeconnector 11 being arranged in the center between two locking stands 8.In the embodiment according to FIG. 1, the counter flange connectors arearranged in the planar region of the retaining ring 6.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a retaining unit 5 according to theembodiment depicted in FIG. 1, with a view to the bottom side oppositeof the toothed structure 4 which, according to the representation inFIG. 2, is facing the viewer. The representation in FIG. 2 shows thateach counter flange connector 11 has a rounded frontal side at the freeend protruding into the internal space of the retaining ring 6. On bothsides of the connecting region of each respective counter flangeconnector 11 a reduction recess has been provided which extends inradial direction from the internal side 9 of the retaining ring 6 to theexternal side 13 of the retaining ring 6. In this way, by exerting aperpendicular force from the upper side in the direction of the bottomside of an element 1 (not shown) arranged in the retaining unit 5, eachcounter flange connector 11 can be moved with relatively little effortout of the planar region of the retaining ring 6 in order to release theelement 1 and maintain the connection between the retaining unit 5 andthe edge strips 2, 3. As a result, each retaining unit 5 is permanentlyconnected with the edge strips 2, 3, provided the device is used inaccordance with the intended purpose.

FIG. 3 shows a frontal side view of the embodiment according to FIG. 1,with a view to an element 1 in the form of a machine screw arranged in aretaining unit 5. Said machine screw is designed with a shaft 15, a headplate 16, and a tool attachment structure 17. FIG. 3 shows that eachlocking stand 8 has a lead-in chamfer 18 on the side facing away fromretaining ring 6, which lead-in chamfer 18 which is inclined toward thepositioning lug 10. On the side facing the retaining ring 6, a clampingslope is available which, in the representation of FIG. 3, rests againstthe upper side of the head plate 16 facing away from the retaining ring6. The bottom side of the head plate 16 facing the retaining ring 6, inturn, rests on the counter flange connectors 11 (not shown in FIG. 3).As a result, the respective element 1 is firmly fixed by the fixingarrangement formed by the locking stand 8 and the counter flangeconnectors 11.

For applying an element 1, a force has to be exerted on the respectiveelement 1 from the upper side of the retaining ring 6 in the directionof the bottom side of the retaining ring 6 in order to release theelement 1 from the fixing arrangement. For this purpose, it isadvantageous to leave sufficient space between the locking stands 8 andthe tool attachment structure 17 to allow a tool (not shown in FIG. 2)to engage with the tool attachment structure 17.

FIG. 4 shows a detailed perspective view of a further embodiment of aninvention-based device with a view to the upper side which, according tothe representation of FIG. 4, is facing the viewer. The embodimentaccording to FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 and the embodiment according to FIG. 4have corresponding components provided with the same reference numerals,which are subsequently not explained in detail. FIG. 4 shows that inthis embodiment the counter flange connector 11 is connected with theretaining ring 6 on the side facing away from the locking stand 8 via arespective web portion 20 which extends in perpendicular manner to therespective counter flange connector 11. As a result, the counter flangeconnectors 11 with bearing portions 21 are arranged in a planar regionwhich is offset from the planar region of the respective retaining ring6, forming a relatively large receiving area between the positioninglugs 10 and the counter flange connectors 11 to hold the relativelythick elements 1.

FIG. 5 shows the embodiment according to FIG. 4 with a view to thebottom side facing the viewer (as shown in the representation accordingto FIG. 5) with an element 1 inserted in the retaining unit 5. FIG. 5shows that a radial distance exists between the head plate 16 of theelement 1 and the internal side 9 of the retaining ring 6, so that theelement 1 is fixed in the retaining ring 6 with a certain play withinthe scope of elasticity of the locking stand 8 in order to compensatetolerances.

While this invention has been described as having a preferred design,the present invention can be further modified within the spirit andscope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended tocover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using itsgeneral principles. Further, this application is intended to cover suchdepartures from the present disclosure as come within known or customarypractice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fallwithin the limits of the appended claims.

1-11. (canceled)
 12. A device for holding elements in a successivearrangement in a longitudinal direction, comprising: at least one edgestrip; a plurality of retaining units each fixedly connected to a saidedge strip via at least one lateral connecting web, each said retainingunit including a fixing arrangement for releasably fixing an element tosaid retaining unit.
 13. The device of claim 12, further comprising apair of said edge strips aligned in parallel arrangement to each other,each retaining unit connected to both of said edge strips.
 14. Thedevice of claim 12, wherein each retaining unit is connected with saidat least one edge strip via a pair of said connecting webs.
 15. Thedevice of claim 12, wherein said fixing arrangement of each saidretaining unit includes a closed retaining ring to which said at leastone connecting web is connected.
 16. The device of claim 15, whereinsaid fixing arrangement includes a plurality of locking stands connectedto said retaining ring, said locking stands protruding over saidretaining ring in a perpendicular direction to a plane of said retainingring and including a positioning lug disposed radially inwardly of aninternal side of said retaining ring.
 17. The device of claim 16,wherein said fixing arrangement includes a plurality ofinwardly-extending counter flange connectors connected to said internalside of said retaining ring.
 18. The device of claim 17, wherein eachcounter flange connector is disposed circumferentially between a pair ofsaid locking stands.
 19. The device of claim 17, comprising a reductionrecess disposed on each side of each counter flange connector, saidreduction recesses extending radially outwardly toward an external sideof said retaining ring.
 20. The device of claim 17, wherein each counterflange connector is disposed within said plane of said retaining ring.21. The device of claim 17, wherein each counter flange connector isconnected with said retaining ring via a respective web portionextending perpendicularly away from said locking stands and disposed ina planar region which is offset from said plane of said retaining ring.22. The device of claim 17, wherein each counter flange connectorincludes a free end having a rounded frontal side protruding into aninternal space of said retaining ring.